Records are there to be broken and that was the case in Dingle Mart on Saturday last at the west Kerry mart’s 50th annual fatstock show and sale, which had a top price of €7,020.
Topping the sale was the show champion, an 805kg November 2022-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer that was the property of Eoin Moriarty, Ballydavid.
Making €8.72/kg, the heifer was purchased by local factory agent James Bowler.
Another handful of heavy show cattle sold for over €4,000 and another few weren't far behind them, as factory buyers, farmers and finishers left nothing behind in a sale that had a 100% clearance rate.
The general run for fat and store cattle of all breeds was from €4.20/kg to €4.70/kg, with a number of cattle exceeding this range too.
Cull demand
Demand for cull cows has been strong throughout the year and this was also the case last weekend, with up to €3,580 paid for heavy suckler cows. Fleshed Friesians were heading for €2,000 and more on the odd occasion.
Parlour cows were generally making from €900 to €1,200 with their weight.
Following the sale, manager Neilus McAuliffe said: “We had one of the best yards of fatstock in many years with super cattle and they met with premium prices.
"It was great to see it for the 50th year of the fatstock and we’ll have a special event to mark the anniversary of the mart at our sale on 15 November.
"Beef had a lull about a month ago, but it’s back up to its best now and that was shown in the prices that were paid here.
'Exceptional'
"Everything rose - calves, weanlings, cull cows. Anyone selling a cull cow is nearly able to buy an in-calf heifer to replace here whereas before it might have taken two cull cows to buy a replacement heifer.
"For store cattle, Friesians were getting from €3.85/kg up. There were exceptional prices especially for pollys and whiteheads, they were making up to €4.40kg, that was for those 500kg year-and-a-half- old store cattle.
"A few store Charolais made up to €4.80/kg too.
"This is the first year that people are getting well paid for feeding cattle and while costs have risen too, the prices are rising above the costs so there’s a few pounds to be made.
"Hopefully, this is the new normal going forward. If the beef trade stays steady like this, everyone will make a bit of money from it.”
Prizewinners
The champion of Dingle Mart's 50th annual fat stock show and sale was a Belgian Blue-cross heifer owned by Eoin Moriarty. The heifer sold for €7,020. Eoin is seen here receiving his prize from Fergal Corcoran on behalf of Muiris Dan's bar. Also included are (L to R) Richie Williams, Neilus McAuliffe, mart manager, Michael Whelan, Jack Moriarty, judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
Aspiring Dingle farmers, Tadhg O'Holloran, Cnoc a Bhroigin and Ronan Kavanagh, Baileraich celebrate Ronan's win at the 50th annual fat stock show and sale in Dingle Mart, Co Kerry.
Mickie O'Connor receiving his prize for the reserve champion at Dingle Mart's fat stock show and sale from manager, Neilus McAulliffe, William Delaney receiving his prize from Neilus McAuliffe at Dingle Mart's fatstock show and sale. Also included are mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter and judge, Thomas Callaghan.
William Delaney receiving his prize from Neilus McAuliffe at Dingle Mart's fatstock show and sale. Also included are judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
Thomas Kavanagh and Ronan Kavanagh receiving their prize from Neilus McAuliffe, Dingle Mart manager. Also included are judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
In pictures
This November 2022-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighed 805kg and sold for €7,020 (€8.72/kg).
This April 2024-born Charolais-cross bullock weighed 834kg and sold for €4,000 (€4.80/kg).
This April 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 766kg and sold for €3,360 (€4.31/kg).
This January 2023-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 826kg and sold for €3,780 (€4.58/kg).
This January 2023-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighed 615kg and sold for €2,840 (€4.62/kg).
This February 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 884kg and sold for €4,500 (€5.09/kg).
This March 2023-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 888kg and sold for €4,360 (€4.91/kg).
This February 2024-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 744kg and sold for €3,950 (€5.31/kg).
This April 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 876kg and sold for €4,340 (€4.95/kg).
This May 2015-born Limousin-cross cow weighed 840kg and sold for €3,000 (€3.57/kg).
This April 2017-born Angus-cross cow weighed 942kg and sold for €3,580 (43.80/kg).
This April 2024-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 688kg and sold for €3,000 (€4.36/kg).
This January 2023-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 760kg and sold for €3,180 (€4.18/kg).
This March 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 650kg and sold for €2,800 (€4.31/kg).
This January 2023-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 754kg and sold for €3,100 (€4.11/kg).
This February 2023-born Charolais-cross bullock weighed 990kg and sold for €4,700 (€4.75/kg).
This April 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 708kg and sold for €3,220 (€4.55/kg).
This February 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 595kg and sold for €2,630 (€4.43/kg).
Records are there to be broken and that was the case in Dingle Mart on Saturday last at the west Kerry mart’s 50th annual fatstock show and sale, which had a top price of €7,020.
Topping the sale was the show champion, an 805kg November 2022-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer that was the property of Eoin Moriarty, Ballydavid.
Making €8.72/kg, the heifer was purchased by local factory agent James Bowler.
Another handful of heavy show cattle sold for over €4,000 and another few weren't far behind them, as factory buyers, farmers and finishers left nothing behind in a sale that had a 100% clearance rate.
The general run for fat and store cattle of all breeds was from €4.20/kg to €4.70/kg, with a number of cattle exceeding this range too.
Cull demand
Demand for cull cows has been strong throughout the year and this was also the case last weekend, with up to €3,580 paid for heavy suckler cows. Fleshed Friesians were heading for €2,000 and more on the odd occasion.
Parlour cows were generally making from €900 to €1,200 with their weight.
Following the sale, manager Neilus McAuliffe said: “We had one of the best yards of fatstock in many years with super cattle and they met with premium prices.
"It was great to see it for the 50th year of the fatstock and we’ll have a special event to mark the anniversary of the mart at our sale on 15 November.
"Beef had a lull about a month ago, but it’s back up to its best now and that was shown in the prices that were paid here.
'Exceptional'
"Everything rose - calves, weanlings, cull cows. Anyone selling a cull cow is nearly able to buy an in-calf heifer to replace here whereas before it might have taken two cull cows to buy a replacement heifer.
"For store cattle, Friesians were getting from €3.85/kg up. There were exceptional prices especially for pollys and whiteheads, they were making up to €4.40kg, that was for those 500kg year-and-a-half- old store cattle.
"A few store Charolais made up to €4.80/kg too.
"This is the first year that people are getting well paid for feeding cattle and while costs have risen too, the prices are rising above the costs so there’s a few pounds to be made.
"Hopefully, this is the new normal going forward. If the beef trade stays steady like this, everyone will make a bit of money from it.”
Prizewinners
The champion of Dingle Mart's 50th annual fat stock show and sale was a Belgian Blue-cross heifer owned by Eoin Moriarty. The heifer sold for €7,020. Eoin is seen here receiving his prize from Fergal Corcoran on behalf of Muiris Dan's bar. Also included are (L to R) Richie Williams, Neilus McAuliffe, mart manager, Michael Whelan, Jack Moriarty, judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
Aspiring Dingle farmers, Tadhg O'Holloran, Cnoc a Bhroigin and Ronan Kavanagh, Baileraich celebrate Ronan's win at the 50th annual fat stock show and sale in Dingle Mart, Co Kerry.
Mickie O'Connor receiving his prize for the reserve champion at Dingle Mart's fat stock show and sale from manager, Neilus McAulliffe, William Delaney receiving his prize from Neilus McAuliffe at Dingle Mart's fatstock show and sale. Also included are mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter and judge, Thomas Callaghan.
William Delaney receiving his prize from Neilus McAuliffe at Dingle Mart's fatstock show and sale. Also included are judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
Thomas Kavanagh and Ronan Kavanagh receiving their prize from Neilus McAuliffe, Dingle Mart manager. Also included are judge, Thomas Callgahan and mart secretary, Padraig Ferriter.
In pictures
This November 2022-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighed 805kg and sold for €7,020 (€8.72/kg).
This April 2024-born Charolais-cross bullock weighed 834kg and sold for €4,000 (€4.80/kg).
This April 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 766kg and sold for €3,360 (€4.31/kg).
This January 2023-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 826kg and sold for €3,780 (€4.58/kg).
This January 2023-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighed 615kg and sold for €2,840 (€4.62/kg).
This February 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 884kg and sold for €4,500 (€5.09/kg).
This March 2023-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 888kg and sold for €4,360 (€4.91/kg).
This February 2024-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 744kg and sold for €3,950 (€5.31/kg).
This April 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 876kg and sold for €4,340 (€4.95/kg).
This May 2015-born Limousin-cross cow weighed 840kg and sold for €3,000 (€3.57/kg).
This April 2017-born Angus-cross cow weighed 942kg and sold for €3,580 (43.80/kg).
This April 2024-born Charolais-cross heifer weighed 688kg and sold for €3,000 (€4.36/kg).
This January 2023-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 760kg and sold for €3,180 (€4.18/kg).
This March 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 650kg and sold for €2,800 (€4.31/kg).
This January 2023-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 754kg and sold for €3,100 (€4.11/kg).
This February 2023-born Charolais-cross bullock weighed 990kg and sold for €4,700 (€4.75/kg).
This April 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 708kg and sold for €3,220 (€4.55/kg).
This February 2024-born Angus-cross heifer weighed 595kg and sold for €2,630 (€4.43/kg).
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